Refigerator door



July l2, 1960 2,944,304

C. L. OTTO ETALV REFRIGERATOR DOOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. Z

Filed sept. 22, 1958 l/ llll l '1".- rfpllllrnlapfplllp'l'.

July 12, 1960 c. l.. oT'ro ETAL REFRIGERATOR DooR 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 22, 1958 FIG. 7

l' Zia, 170C @idw W i ff 14 fran/Ef United States Patent@ 2,944,304 REFRIGERAToRfDooR .can Louis otto, New York, NX., and Brje Birger Grnqvist, Viggbyholm, Sweden, assignors to Aktiebolaget Electrolux, Stockholm, Sweden, aV corporation of Sweden Filed Sept. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 762,468

12 claims. (ci. zo-ssy become apparent as theV following description proceeds,

and thefeatures of novelty which characterize the invention will! be pointed out: inthe claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

' For a better understanding of the invention, Vreference i may be had to the following descriptiemy taken in. connection with the accompanying drawings, in. which:

Pig. l. is" a front elevation of a. refrigerator cabinet provided with a door embodying the. invention; p

Fig. 2 is a side elevation -of therefrig'erator cabinet illustrated in Fig. l; i

Pigs. 3 and 4 are enlarged horizontal and Vertical sectional views, partly broken away, taken at. lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of Fig. l, to illustrate; detailsof the door;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevationv of the door shown. in Figs.y 3` Yand 4partly broken away Vand in section, to illust-rate corner details of the door;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken at line 6 6 of Fig. A1%;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary frontv elevation of parts shown in Fig. 5, certain other parts 'being omitted to` illustrate details more clearly;

Fig. 8 is a verticali elevation view taken at line 8-s8 l of Fig. 7; and l v Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional'view taken' at line 9;-

of Fig.- 8. Y e

In the drawings, a refrigerator cabinet 10.- is provided with a ydoor 11 for closingy the.` front access opening'of the cabinet interior 12. The cabinet' It-includes an inner shell 14 which forms thev cabinet interiorg12 adapted to be cooled by suitable refrigeration apparatus. A-n outer shell. 15, which is formed withk a flat topl 1G and lateral side-walls 17 perpendicularthereto, is in spaced relation with the inner shell 14 and the space therebetween is fil-ledA withl suitable insullation 18. About the front. access opening is provided a breaker strip `19` which is formed of suitable insulating material and bridges thegap between the forwardy edges of the inner and outer shells 14 and 15,'respectively. Y

The multi-sided door. `11 comprises inner. andouter wall members 20` and 21 having a suitable insulating medium 22 therebetween. As best Vseen in Figs. 3 and 4,

the innerv wa'll member' 20, which may," be formed of suitable plastic' m'ater'iah is of dish-like form having' a rim or ledge'210a2 about its periphery which is' essentially parallel to thev outer wall-vmemberfz. A gasket 22* is provided ati the ledge 20o for? effectively sealing thedoor 11 initsl iclo'sedf position. f

The gasket 22 preferably comprises a strip of resilient or elastic material, such as rubber or soft plastic,' for' example, provided with a ilat portion 22a and a hollow striking bead 221: which forms an air-tight seal `when it contacts the front marginal portions 23 of the outer shell 15. The hollow bead 22h and at portion 22a are 'connected along one edge at 22o and spaced to formV a groove `22a! which receives the rim or ledge 20a of the inner wall member 20. t

In accordance with this invention, the outer wall member 21 comprises the main supporting frame of the door 11 and is provided with reinforcing structure at its front face. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the 1 e inforcing structure comprises flanges 24, 25, 26 and 27 which project forward from the periphery of the front face of the outer wall member 21. As best seen in Fig. 7, the outer wall member 21 is notched at the corners at 28 to provide gaps 29 between the ends of adjacent flanges 24 to 2'7.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4, 8 and 9, the anges 24 to 27 are substantially perpendicular to 'the llat'outer wall member 21. The outer end portions of the flanges 24 to 27 are bent inwardly from the sides of the outer wall member to form lips or outer ange portions 24a, 25a, 26av and 27a which are essentially parallel to the outer wallmember and spaced forwardly therefrom.

As best shown in Fig. 7, the cornersofV the outer wall member 21 are reinforced by brackets Sllfrhaving curved intermediate portions 30a at the gaps 29 Vand atarms Sllb and 30C which extend into the U-shaped channels formed by the flanges 24 to 27 and lips or Vouter ange portions 24a to 27a. The at armsy iib and 30o of the corner bracketsl 31) bear against the innerV surfaces4 of the flanges 24 to 27 and are fixedthereto at 31, as by spot welding,jfor example.

Y The door 11may be hinged to the front ofthe cabinet 10 in any suitable manner (not shown). If desired, the corner brackets 3i) may be employed as regions to which hinge parts Vmay be secured to the door. In such case,

the vertically disposed arms 30h of the corner brackets strip comprises a plurality of sections 124, 125, I12d and 127 which in cross-section are of trapezoidalV form, the longer of the two parallel sides 124a to 12711 and 124b to 127b being providedwith elongated slots 124e to 127e.

Y In Figs. 3 and 4 it will ,be seen thatrthe shorter of the two parallel-sides of the trim strip sections, viz., sides 12451 to `127a, are parallel to and in contact with the lips or outer flange; portions 24a to 27a; andV the longer of the two parallel sides,` viz., sides 124b to 1127.?) areparallel to and bear `against the front face of the outer wall member 21. The sides 124:1 to 1275i of the trim strip sections are parallel to the forwardly projecting reinforcing llanges 24 to 27 and fincontact therewith. The fourth yand'last sides124e to 127e of the trim strip sections are inclined with respect to the sides 124d to 127d and slope inwardly frornthe sides of the outer wallvrnember 21 in a direction extending from the front to the rear of the trim strip sections 124 to l127.

The elongated slots 124C to ,127e are suiciently wide so that the trim strip sections 124to' 127 can be moved over lthe lips or outer flange portions 24a' to 27a of the llanges`24v to 27 to the positions illustrated inFig's. 3y and E sections form the inner bent longitudinal edge portion of the trim strip which is concealed from view and bears against the front face of the outer wall member 2l.

The outer longitudinal edge portions of the trim strip sections 124 to 127 are bent upon themselves to form grooves lrtf to 127i which are disposed essentially in planes passing through the forwardly projecting flanges 24 to 27, respectively. rl`he bent outer longitudinal edge portions of the trim strip sections bear against the part 22C of the gasket 22. and `also are conceale i. from View, as seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. n y

The grooves 1241 to 1271 of the trim strip sections receive the short arms 32a of `angle members 32, the longer arms 32h of which bear against the rear face of the outer wall member 2l at regions directly opposite the sides 124b to 12715 of the trim strip sections. The ledge a lof the inner wall member iti, gasket 22, arms 32h of angle members 32, outer wall member 2l and sides 124b to 127i? of the trim strip sections llZli to f2.7 are formed with aligned openings which `are distributed about the periphery of the door il to receive tightening screws 33 for firmly securing the door parts together, as shown in Fig. 6. It will be evident that the hollow bead 22k must be raised from its normal position when the screws 33 are being inserted in position and tightened to secure the door parts together.

Additional screws 34 are illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 which are disposed at regions between the regions at which screws 33 are provided for securing the door parts together. The screws 34 pass through `aligned openings in the outer wall member 2l and sides lieb to E27!) of the trim strip sections to properly position and locate the trim strip sections at the front face of the outer wall member. ln this way, the number of door parts that must be handled when the screws 35 are employed in the final assembly of the door lll is materially reduced.

In Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the heads of the screws 34 are disposed in openings 32C formed in the longer arms 3215 `of the angle members 32. ln this way, the angle members 32 may be placed in position against. the rear face of the outer wall member 2l after the trirn strip sections me to 31.27 have been secured thereto by the screws 34. It should be evident that the screws $4 need not be employed and all of the door partsmay be secured together by the screws 33. However, when this is done, considerably more door parts must be handled at one time in the final assembly of the door ll.

As shown in Fig. 5, the ends of the trim strip sections 12d to 127 are `at angles to their longitudinal axes and gaps 35 are formed between the ends of adjacent trim strip sections at the corners of the outer wall member 21. While the trim strip sections f2s to 127 may be of such length that relatively small gaps are formed between the ends of adjacent sections which may be welded to one another, for example, the fabrication of the door 1l is simplified considerably by providing corner members 36 having grooves 36a to receive the end edges of adiacent trim strip sections i241 to l2?. The portion of groove receiving the end edge of the side llZf/. ofktrim strip section 15.26 is illustrated in Fig. 5. By providing grooves 36a of ample depth in the corner member 36, any variations in the relative positions of the trim strip sections at the front face of the outer wall member canV readily be compensated to facilitate the assembly of door parts in accord with the invention.

With the door ll in its closed position, the flanges 2d to 27 are perpendicular to the front of the cabinet itl. Also, the flanges 24, 26 and 217, as well as the sides liid, 12nd and l27d of the trim strip sections,V are substantially in alignment with the top le 'and lateral side "walls f.7 of the cabinet to provide a refrigerator which is attractive and neat in appearance. Y

In the preferred embodiment illustrated and just described, the trim ystrip sections 124 to M7 are formed 2,944,304 f .Y ,A f

from flat stock and bent into the desired shape in any suitable manner. However, it should be understood that the trim strip sections may be formed 4in any other suitable way, as by extrusion, for example. Y

It will now be understood that an improved refrigerator door has been provided in which the flanges extending forward fro-m the front face of the outer wall member are effectively utilized to reinforce the door. This arrangement is especially advantageous when the outer wall kmember constitutes the main supporting frame of the door. In turn, the trim strip sections, which overlie the reinforcing flanges and conceal the latter from View, are secured in position `at the front face of the outer wall member and protected to a great extent by the reinforcing flanges. This produces an inexpensive and easily manufactured construction. y

v While al single embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, such variations `and modifications are contemplated `as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention, as pointed out in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A refrigerator door including inner and outer wall members having an insulating medium therebetween, said outer wall member having a flange at its periphery which projects from the front face thereof,`and an elongated trim strip which overlies said flange and conceals the latter from view, the longitudinal edge portions of said trim strip being bent and concealed from view, means for fastening said trim strip to said outer wall member, 'said fastening means cooperating 'with at least one of the bent longitudinal edge portions of said trim strip, said one longitudinal edge portion of said trim strip being bent backupon itself to form a groove disposed essentially in a plane passing through said flange, and an angle member having a pair of arms, one of said arms nesting in said groove and the other arm being iixed to the rear side of said outer wall member. Y

2. A refrigerator door as set forth in claim l in which the other arm of saidV angle member is fixed to the rear side of said outer wall member by said trim strip fastening means.

3. A refrigerator door including inner and outer wall members having an insulating medium therebetween, said outer wall member having a ange at its periphery which projects from the front face thereof, and an elongated trim strip whichoverlies said flange and conceals the latter from View, the longitudinal edge portions of said trim strip being bent and concealed from View, one longitudinal edge portion of said trim strip being bent back upon itself to form a groove disposed essentially in a plane passing through said flange, an angle member having a pair of arms, one of said arms nesting in said groove and the other bearing against the rear face of said outer wall member, the other longitudinal edge portion of said trim strip being bent to form a trim strip side bearing againstV the front face of said outer wall member, said outer wall member having openings, and means passing through said openings forfastening the other arm of `said angle memn ber and said trim strip side to said outer wall member.

4. A refrigerator door as set forth inV claim 3 infwhich said inner wall member is formed with openings. Vsaid fastening means also passing through the openings in said inner Wall member.

5. In an insulated refrigerator door, a substantially dat outer wall member having at its periphery anintegrally formed flange which includes a first section that projects forward from the front face of the lwall member and is substantially perpendicular thereto and a second outer section that projects inwardly from the periphery of the Wall member at the forward end of the irstsection and is substantially parallel to the front face of the wall member and spaced therefrom, an elongated four-sided trim strip,

trim strip embracing said flange and having integrally formed sides including first and second parallel sides which respectively overlie the front face of the outer wall mem-ber and the front surface of the second outer ange section, a third side which is perpendicular to the first and second sides and overlies the outer surface of the rst flange section, a fourth side which extends alongside the third side and is spaced from the periphery of the outer wall member, the fourth side lbeing united to the rst and second sides at regions thereof most remote from the periphery of the outer wall member, and the first side extending from the fourth side toward the periphery of the outer wall member and being concealed from view.

6. An outer wall member for an insulated refrigerator door as set forth in claim in which the first and third sides of the trim strip have a gap therebetween through which the flange projects forward from the front face of outer wall member.

7. An outer wall member for an insulated refrigerator door as set forth in claim 6 in which the means to x the trim strip to the outer wall member comprises fastening structure cooperating with the first side of the trim strip which is concealed from View.

8. An outer wall member for an insulated refrigerator door as set forth in claim 5 in which the third side of the trim strip extends rearward past the periphery of the outer wall member and the rear free end thereof terminates at a region at the back side of the wall member, the means to fix the trim strip to the outer wall member comprising structure cooperating with the rear free end of the third side of the trim strip. f

9. An outer wall member for an insulated refrigerator door as set forth in claim 8 in which the rear free end of the third side of the trim strip is bent back upon itself to form a groove with the extreme rear edge of the third side concealed from view, the structure forming a part of the trim strip fixing means including a part having one portion disposed in the groove and another portion against the back side of the outer wall member.

l0. An outer wall member for an insulated refrigerator door as set forth in claim 5 in which said four-sided trim strip is of trapezoidal form, the fourth side of the trim strip sloping away from the periphery of the outer wall member in a rearward direction from the second to the first sides of the trim strip.

11. An outer Wall member for'an insulated refrigerator door as set forth in claim 5 in which the wall member is rectangular and the integrally formed flange and elongated trim strip are both formed with gaps 'at the corners of the outer wall member, and members bridging the gaps of the trim strip at the corners of the outer wall member. 12. An outer wall member for an insulated refrigerator door as set forth in claim 11 which includes angle members which bridge the gaps of the ange at the corners of the outer wall member and are fixed to the flange at both sides of each gap, said angle members being concealed from View by the members bridging the gaps of the trim strip at the corners of the outer wall member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Eichhorn et a1 oct. z2, 1957 2,816,331 Moore Dec. 17, 1957 

